The 12th annual Vets Day 5k invited Jayhawks both locally and globally for a commemorative run on November 12, 2023 to pay tribute to all those who served and fought for America.
The race begins and ends at Memorial Stadium, traveling through the Lawrence campus and past KU’s war memorials.
Final numbers included over 620 participants, including over 100 virtual runners. Participants could also sign up as a group or team. Two alumni networks, the Dallas and Washington D.C. Jayhawks, ran as a team, including the D.C. Jayhawks on the National Mall.
The 2023 run marked the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice. Each Vets Day 5k run observes an important veteran anniversary.
April Blackmon Strange, director of the KU Military-Affiliated Student Center and Kelsey Galle, c’12, KU Alumni assistant director of Kansas City programs, organized the annual event.
All proceeds go directly to supporting the KU Student Veterans of America chapter, the KU Veterans Alumni Network and the Lt. Gen. William K. Jones Military-Affiliated Student Center. In addition to registration and sponsorships, the 5k raised over $5,000 in donations.
Visit the Vets Day 5k website for more information, including race results. For more information on the Veterans Alumni Network, visit kualumni.org/van.
Thank you to the sponsors who made this event possible: Integrated Benefits, ABS Legal Advocates, Lawrence Dental Center, Truity, Kansas Lottery, Bud Light, Central Bank, Pepsi, The Dole Institute of Politics, Lawrence Shirt Factory and Ad Astra Running Company.
